Field Hockey

Northwestern's Armstrong named Offensive Player of the Year, Ohio State's Coyle and Pastor-Pitarque named Defensive Player and Freshman of the Year, respectively; Michigan's Pankratz named Coach of the Year

Park Ridge, Ill. -
The Big Ten Conference office announced the 2010 All-Big Ten field hockey teams and individual awards Thursday, with Michigan, Northwestern, Ohio State winning individual honors. Buckeye junior Aisling Coyle was named Defensive Player of the Year, while teammate Paula Pastor-Pitarque was honored as Freshman of the Year. Northwestern's Chelsea Armstrong was named the conference's Offensive Player of the Year, and Michigan's Marcia Pankratz earned the Coach of the Year honors.

The win for Armstrong marks the fourth time Northwestern has won the Offensive Player of the Year award. Coyle gives Ohio State its first Defensive Player of the Year award in program history. Pastor-Pitarque is the Buckeyes' third Freshman of the Year and second straight, after teammate Berta Queralt won the award in 2009. Michigan's Pankratz earns her fourth Coach of the Year award.

Joining Coyle and Armstrong on the conference's first team were Indiana's Brenna Moeljadi, Michigan's Paige Laytos and Meredith Way, Michigan State's Jantine Steinmetz and Sabine van den Assem, Ohio State's Queralt and Penn State's trio of Kelsey Amy, Ayla Halus and Jessica Longstreth. Way, Armstrong, Coyle and Queralt make their second straight appearance on the first team, while Laytos and Steinmetz moved up from last year's second team.

Additionally, the conference named the field hockey Big Ten Sportsmanship Award honorees. The student-athletes chosen are individuals who have distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior. These student-athletes must also be in good academic standing and have demonstrated good citizenship outside of the sports-competition setting. The 2010 honorees are Indiana's Jaclyn Milici, Iowa's Becca Spengler, Michigan's Eileen Brandes, Michigan State's Meghan Magee, Northwestern's Katie Lynch, Ohio State's Bri Doak, and Penn State's Jenny Purvis.